eleventh hour

noun

: the latest possible time before it is too late

still making changes at the eleventh hour

Examples of eleventh hour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the past, Palestinian leaders have postponed elections at the eleventh hour, citing challenges including campaigning and voting in East Jerusalem. — Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Civil litigation can drag on for years, frequently ending in settlements reached at the eleventh hour, just before a trial begins. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Why the eleventh hour came with an extra second, killing time proved impossible, and time fails to fly in Ann Arbor. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

Fox arrived on the production at the eleventh hour after the production’s original Romeo, Richard Madden, and then his understudy were indisposed. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eleventh hour

• candlepower
• cauliflower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower